Printing machine



July 11, 1939- H. P. BRowNsEY 2,155,535

PRINTING` MACHINE #rm yg/ENTOR.

BY www' d), M Z

ATTORNEY July 11, 1939.

' H. P. BROWNSEY PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 1:5; 19:56

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY..

Patented July l1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE 2,165,535 PRINTING MACHINE Horace P. Brownsey, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Clevelandgohio, a corporation of Delaware This-invention relates to printing machines of the kind wherein utility bills, checks, insurance notices and the like are printed, and the primary object is to print constantly reoccurring matten, such as a form, on bills, checks, notices and the like during passage thereof through the machine.

Bills, checks, notices and the like are fed through printing machines of the kind to which this invention relates as parts of an elongatedweb or in the form of separate elongated strips which may either be cut from a web in the machine or which may be pre-cut and suitably stacked in the machine for passage therethrough. During passage through the machine the bills and the like usually have variable information printed thereon, such as an address or the like, from printing devices sequentially fed through the machine, and

lthe constantly reoccurring matter such as the4 form is printed on the bills or the like so that there is a permanent relation in the relative positions of the Variable information and constantly reoccurring matter. A machine of this kind ls shown in the Hartley Patent 1,955,806, patented April 24, 1934, wherein a printing couple is shown for printing the form on bills, passed therethrough, and another important object ofthe present invention is to provide a novel printing couple adapted for use in a machine such as thatI shown in the aforesaid Hartley patent.

The bills, checks, notices and the like are sequentially fed through machines of the kind to which this invention relates and the printing operations are performed thereon at relatively high speed to enable rapid production thereof, and another object of my invention is to provide a novel lprinting couple-for printing the form on bills or the like which may be operated at a relatively high speed, and ancillary objects are to rigidly supportA the printing cylinders of the printing couple and to enable quiet operation of the print` ing couple at relatively high speeds.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a printing couple embodying a printing cylinder bearing a printing form, such as an electroplate or the like, and a platen cylinder bearing a blanket or the like with which a make-ready may be associated, and to synchronously operate the printing and platen cylinders so that corresponding parts thereof will cooperate in each printing operation thereof whereby uniform impressions will be made thereby; to provide intermeshing gears for synchronously driving the printing and platen cylinders and to maintain saidgears in uniform intermeshing relation during operation of the printing couple; to prevent formation of offsets on the blanket of the platen cylinder by preventing cooperation between the printing and platen cylinders when no bill or the like is available for .passage therethrough; and to maintain 5 the printing and platen cylinders in printing relation s o long as bills or the like are available for passage therethrough.

A selected embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein 10 Fig. l is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan in which a part of the frame is broken away;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken sub- 15 stantially on the line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

In the preferred form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 5 indicates' the printing cylinder and 6 the platen cylinder of my novel printing couple. An electroplate or 20 other printing form may be retained on the printing cylinder 5 in the manner shown in the Kranz Patent 1,955,814, patented April 24, 1934, or in any other suitable way, and ink may be supplied to this printing form in the manner shown in 26 Kranz Patent 1,946,217, patented February 6, 1934, although it is to be understood that other suitable ink supplying means may be provided without departing from the purview of my invention. In order that neat and uniform impressions 30 may be made on bills, checks, notices and the like by the printing couple, the platen cylinder 6 is preferably equipped with a tensionable blanket in the manner shown in the` Kranz Patent 1,937,119, patented November 28, 1933, although 35 it is to be understood that the platen cylinder 6 may be equipped with a blanket or equivalent means in any desired way without departing from the purview of my invention as long as uniform impressions from the printing form on the print- 40 ing cylinder 5 are insured.

The printing cylinder 5 is fast on a shaft 'l journaled in a sleeve 8 of the frame 9 for the printing couple. The platen cylinder 6 is mounted on the eccentric part I0 of a shaft II which in- 45 cludes concentric bearings I2 and I3. The bear.- ing I3 is journaled in a bushing I4 (Fig. 4) secured in one end of a strap I5 and a suitable journal: is also provided for the outer free end of the shaft 'I in this strap I5. A brace I6 (Fig.` 2) 50 is secured to the strap I5 at the end thereof in which the bushing I4 is secured and this brace is rigidly connected to the frame 9. The brace IB and strap I5 aord an overhanging bearing structure for the louter free ends of the shafts 1 55 and II and increase the rigidity of the printing couple.

A gear I1 is fast on the shaft 1 and meshes with a pinion I8 fast on the shaft I9 journaled in the frame 9 and having a pulley 20 thereon about which a belt 2| is passed, said belt extending to a suitable source of power such as an electric motor (not shown) whereby power is supplied to the shaft I8 to rotate the pinion I8 and the gear I1 and therefore the shaft 1.

A gear 22 is fast to the cylinder 5 as, for example, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, and meshes with a gear 23 rotatably mounted on the bearing I2 of the shaft II, said bearing I2 being journaled in the frame 9. As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of lugs 24 and 25 is provided on the side of the gear 23 facing the cylinder 6 and a stud 26 on this cylinder fits between these lugs. The gears 22 and 23 are of an equal size and have a corresponding number of teeth and therefore when the shaft 1 is rotated and as the cylinder 5 rotates therewith this movement is transmitted from the gear 22 to the gear 23 to the stud 26 and cylinder 6 wherefore the cylinders 5 and 6, which are of equal size, are operated synchronously.

In the present instance bills, checks, notices or the like are fed to the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6 in the form of elongated strips S along a guideway G and the sheets pass into engagement with a stop finger 21 which is shown out of stopping position in Fig. 1, but when this finger is lowered into stoppingposition it holds the sheet until the printing form on the printing cylinder 5 is in a predetermined position relative to the sheet engaged with the stop finger, Whereupon the stop finger is raised and the sheet is then fed into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6 to' have an impression made thereon. It will thus be seen that the stop finger 21 is raised and lowered in timed relation with the rotation of the cylinders 5 and 6 and this is brought about by means now to be explained.

A vertical shaft 28 is journaled in the frame 8 and has a bevel gear 29 fast thereon which meshes witha bevel gear 30 fast on the shaft 1. Another bevel gear 3| is fast on the shaft 28 and meshes with a bevel gear 32 fast on the shaft 33 suitably journaled in the frame 9 and which may be extended into a machine with which the printing couple of this invention is associated to drive operative parts in such machine if so desired. The ratiobetween the gears 28 and 30 and 3| and 32 is preferably one-to-one and it will therefore be seen that the shaft 33 operates in timed relation with the shaft 1 and therefore the cylinders 5 and 6.

'Ihe stop finger 21 is fast on a shaft 34 journaled in bosses 35 (Fig. 2). An arm 36 is also fast on this shaft and provides an abutment engageable by an adjustable pin 31 mounted in a rocker 38 pivotally mounted on a shaft 39 suitably journaled in the frame 8. An arm 48 (Fig. 2) on the rocker 38 carries a roller 4I engageable with a peripheral cam 42 fast on the shaft 33. A stud 43 (Fig. 1) is fast in the rocker 38 and one end of a spring 44 is fast thereto and the other end of' this spring is connected to a spring anchor 45 fast in the frame 8. The spring 44 so acts on the rocker 38- that the roller 4I is urged into engagement with the peripheral cam 42. Configuration of the .peripheral cam 42 issuch that at a predetermined time in the operation of the printing couple a relieved part on the cam moves into engagement with the roller 4I whereupon the rocker 38 is moved by the spring 44 and the adjustable pin 31 engages the arm 36 and pivots the shaft 34 to elevate the stop finger 21 out of stopping position into the position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the sheet S which has been engaged therewith is moved into the bight between the cylinders v5 and 6 to have an impression made thereon.

In order that movement of the sheet S into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6 at the time the stop finger 21 is elevated will be assured, suitable feeding means are provided comprising the .rollers 46 and 41. The roller 41 is mounted on a shaft 48 and a part of the periphery thereof extends through an opening in the sheet guideway G. Theoller 46 is mounted on a shaft 49 journaled in the rocker 3B and, when the rocker 38 moves under the action of the spring 44 to elevate the stop finger 21, the roller 46 is lowered to thereby clamp the sheet therebelow in engagee ment with th roating roller 41 whereupon the sheet is fed into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6. The shaft 48 on which the roller 41 is mounted has a gear 58 fast thereon which meshes with a pinion 5I carried by the stud shaft 52 journaled in the frame 9 and the pinion 5I meshes with the gear I1. The ratio between the gear I1, pinion 5I and gear 52 is such that the shaft 48 and therefore the roller 41 rotates rather rapidly and therefore a sheet clamped between the rollers 46 and 41 is rapidly fed into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6. The pinion 5I is interposed between the gears I1 and 50 to rotate the roller 41 in a direction such that the sheet will be fed into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6.

As the sheets move along the sheet guideway G they move under the roller 53 (Fig. 2) on shaft 54 of small motor 55 mounted on the side of the sheet guideway. 'I'his roller cooperates with the bottom of the sheet guideway to clamp the sheet and insures movement of the sheets into posi- `tion below the roller 46 and into engagement with stop finger 21. Moreover, as illustrated, shaft 54 and roller 53 are inclined relative to the extent of the sheet guideway wherefore the sheets are forced against the side of the sheet guideway,

and since this side is aligned with the printing form on printing cylinder 5 proper alignment of the sheet and printing form is assured. Preferably the roller 53 is sovpositioned that the sheet is out of engagement therewith when it engages the stop finger 21.

If the cylinders 5 and 6 are permitted to remain in cooperating relation during operation of the printing couple, offsets will be formed on the blanket on the cylinder 6 when no sheet passes between these cylinders, but this is prevented by moving the platen cylinder 6 from cooperative relation with the printing cylinder 5 when no sheet is available for movement between these cylinders.

The shaft II includes concentric bearings I2 and' I3 andan eccentric part I8 on which the cylinder 6 is mounted and this shaft II is arranged ior movement so that the most eccentric portion of the eccentric part I8 may be moved into and from a position wherein this most eccentric portion is'extended toward the cylinder 5. Such movement of the shaft II is effected by a peripheral cam 56 and a spring 51 in a manner now to be explained.

An arm 58 is fast on bearing I2 and one end of a link 58 is pivotally connected thereto. The other end of the link 68 is pivotally connected to a rocker 60 and the opposite end of this rocker is pivotally mounted in a bifurcation in the block 6I as indicated at 62. As best illustrated in Fig. 2, an arm. 63 extends outwardly from the rocker 66 and carries a roller 64 that is urged against the peripheral cam 56 lby the spring 51.,r4

Since the cam 56 -is fast on the shaft 33 it operates in timed relation with the cylinders 5 and 6 and about the time the stop finger 21 is elevated to free a sheet engaged therewith a lobe on the cam 56 engages the roller 64 and pivots the rocker 60 upwardly, thereby positioning the toggle afforded by the link 53 and arm 58 inthe position shown inFig. 3. Movement of the toggle into this position imparts movement to the link 58 which therefore rotates the bearing I2, and this rotation of the bearing l2 is such that the most eccentric portion of the eccentric part I of the shaft Il is moved to extend toward the cylinder whereby the cylinder 6 is movedinto cooperating relation with the cylinder 5 so that an impression will be made on a sheet fed into the bight between these cylinders.

As best shown in Fig. 4 the lobe on cam 56 is relatively short and hence a short time after the rocker '66 is pivoted upwardly the roller 6I moves off this lobe and the spring 51 therefore pivots the rocker 60 downwardly which shortens the toggle aorded by the link 59 and arm 58 and moves these parts into a position wherein the angle between the upper edges thereof is reduced. Such movement rotates the most eccentric portion of the eccentric part I0 away from the cylinder5 whereby the cylinder 6 no longer cooperates with thecylinder 5. The roller 64 moves from engagement with the lobecof cam 56 in this manner prior to the time the electroplate or other printing form on the cylinder 5 moves ,into

cooperative relation with the blanket or the like on the cylinder 6, and therefore the formation of offsets on the blanket-or 'the like is prevented. However, if a sheet is fed into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6 an impression is to be made' thereon and hence means controlled by the presence or absence of a sheet in association with the stop finger 21 determines whether or not the spring 51 is to move the rocker 60 downwardly,

and if the rocker '60 is not to be moved downwardly, as when a sheet is fed into the bight be- -tween the cylinders 5 and 6, means for locking the most eccentric portion of the eccentric part i0 in its position extended toward the cylinder i5l function and hold said portion I0 in this posiion.

Such means include the collar 65 fast on the bearing l2 between the arm 58 and the gear 23, as best shown in Fig. 4. This collarfhas a notch 66 therein inwhich a stop lug 61 is .engageable This stop lug* is carried by a rocker 68 (Figs. 1 and 2) lpivotally vmounted on `the frame as indicated at 69. The rocker includes ay downwardly extending portion 1I) (Fig. 1-) that' extends below a lug 1l on arm-12A of rocker 12'that is'fast on theshaft39. One end of a spring" 13 is connected to the free end of the arm 121of the rocker 12 and the other end'of thisv spring' is suitably connected to the frame 9, and spring urges an'adjustablestop .14 mountedin therlug 1I toward 'the' downwardly extendingportion 16 .of the rocker '68. A roller is provided on the rocker 12 and this roller lis urged toward one side of cam v"56' bythe spring 13. A depression 1s is provided in this side f the cam 56 and atl a time in the y,operation`- after the rocker '60 has been pivoted upwardly the roller 15 moves into the depression 16'if a sheet has not been engaged with the stop finger 21 which, of course, means that no sheet is moving into the bight between the cylinders 5 and 6.

When the roller 15 moves into this depression the stop 14v is moved downwardly by the spring 13 and engages the extension 1|) whereupon the stop lug 61 is pivoted out of the notch "66. Therefore, when the roller 64 starts to move off the lobe on cam 56, the spring 51 may pivot the rocker 60 downwardly wherefore the cylinder 6 will be moved away from the cylinder 5 as previously explained.

The depression 16 is relatively short and shortly after the roller 15 moves thereinto the end of the-depression engages the roller 15 and pivots the rocker 12- so that the stop 14 is disengaged from the portion 10 vwhereupon the stop lug 61 moves into engagement with the periphery of disc 65.*At this time, however, the notch 66 will not be below the lug 61 but in the next operation Vwhen the rocker 60 pivots upwardly the notch 66 the roller 15 is prevented from passing down into the depression 16 and therefore the stop 14 does not engage the'portion 10 and the lug '61 remains in the notch 66.l Therefore, as long as sheets successively move into engagement with the-stop finger 21 the stop lug 61 will remain in the notch 66 and the cylinder 6 will be maintained in cooperating relation with the 4cylinder 5. When, however, no sheet is engaged with the stop nger '21, the detecting finger 11 moves into the depression 19 (Fig. 2) in the bottom `of the printingdevice guidcway, andwhen this occurs the roller 15 may move into the depression 16 withthe effect above described, that is to say, movement of the cylinder 6 out of lcooperating relation with the cylinder 5.

It will thus be seen that once the cylinders 5 and 6 have been moved into cooperating relation, this relation is maintained until a sheet fails to move into engagement with the stop finger 21 and when this occurs the stop lug 61 is moved out of the notch 66 and therefore the spring 51 will cause vthe cylinders 6 to be moved out of cooperating relation with the cylinder 5 and this, as stated, will occur beforean offset is formed on the blanket or the like on'the cylinder 6.

In addition to the extent of the shaft' 33 into the machine to operate operative parts therein othermeans such as a stacking device into which lthe sheets move. after passage thereof through the printing couplemay be operated, and to this lend a pulley 60 is fast on the shaft 1 adjacent the gear and' a belt 3| is' passed thereabout and directed to such other means to be operated 'as 'the stacking device.

speed impressions may be m-adefthereby quite rapidly. Moreover by reason of the fact that an overhanging bearing structure is provided a rigid printing couple is aiordedwhich will make un'iform neat impressions.

Furthermore unnecessary separation of the printing cylinders is avoided since once the cylinders are in cooperating relation'they are maintained in this relation as long as sheets are available for passage through the bight therebetween. When, however, no sheet is available for passage between the cylinders the cylinders are separated, that is to say, moved out of cooperating relation and in this way the formation ofoisets on a blanket or the like on a platen cylinder is prevented.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that this is capable of variationand modi-,- flcation and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing couple, a pair of cylinders, means supporting,A said cylinders for relative movement into and out ofV cooperative relation with each other, means for interconnecting said cylinders for synchronic cyclic operation, a drive shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and in timed relation with said drive shaft, yieldable means effective on at least one of said cylinders and operable to dispose said cylinders out of .cooperative relation, operating means effective against the action of said'yieldable means for moving said cylindersinto cooperative relation, means operating in-timed relation with said drive shaft for effecting operation of saidoperatinglmeans at the beginning of a cycle of 'operation of said cylinders, latch means for retaining said cylinders in cooperative relation, other means operating in timed relation with fsaid drive shaft for rendering said latch' meansineffective subsequent to the operation of said operating means, and means for rendering said other means ineffective under predetermined operating conditions 'to enable saidl latch means to be effective to .retain said cylinders in cooperative relation unlessand untilsaid other means render said latch means ineffective in a subsequent cycle of operation. v

v2. lIn a printing couple, a pair of cylinders for making impressions on sheets fed therebetween, means supporting said cylinders for relative movement into and out o'f printing 'relation'with each other, means for interconnecting said cylinders for synchronic cyclic operation whereby an impression is made on a' sheet by said cylinders in each cycle' of operation thereof in which the cylinders are in printing relation with each other, a drive shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and in' timed relation with said drive shaft', yieldable means effective on at least one of said cylinders and operable to urge sai'dcylinders out of printing relation with each other, meansincluding a part operating in amearelsnpnwmi ma drive snm 'and effective against the action'ofsaid yieldabie means for said cylinders in printing relationv with-'1 f each fother, latchmeans for retaining said cylinders in printing relation against' the action of said 4urging means, other means also including apart operating in timed relation 'with said driveshaft. said other means being Operable to.' render said latch means ineffective subsequent to operation of the meansl eiective Aagainst the action 1I' of. yieldsbiemeans, means for rendering said other means ineffective under predetermined operating conditions to enable said latch means to be eifective to retain said cylinders in cooperative relation unless and until said other means render said latch means ineffective in a subsequent cycle of operation.

3. In a printing couple, a pair of cylinders for making impressions on sheets fed therebetween,

means supporting said cylinders for relative movement into and out of printing relation'with each other, means for interconnecting said cylinders for synchronic cyclic. operation whereby an impression is made on a sheet by said cylinders in each cycle of operation thereof in which the cylinders are in printing relation with each l other, a drive shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and inv timed relation with said drive shaft, yieldable means effective on atleast one of said cylinders and operable to urge said cylinders 'out of printing relation with eachother, operating means effective against the action of said yieldable means for disposing said cylinders in printing'relation with each other,

means operating in timed relation with saiddrive shaft for effecting operation of said operating means at the beginning of a cycle of operation -of said cylinders to establish or maintain printing relation between said cylinders, latch means for retaining said cylinders in printing relation against the action of said urging means, other means including a part operating in timed rela-v tion with said drive shaft, said other means being operable to render said latch means ineffective rendered effective in a subsequent cycle .of operation in which no sheet is present for cooperation with said detecting means.

4. In. a'. printing couple, a pair of cylinders,

means interconnecting said cylinders for syn-1 chronic cyclic rotation, a 'support shaft including a iournaled concentric bearing portion and eccentric portion, one of said vcylinders being mounted for rotation on said eccentric portion,

a driveshaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and in timed relation with said drive shaft, yieldable means acting on said support shaft to urge it into a positionwherein the eccentric portion is disposed to positionthe cylinder mounted thereon out of operative rela'- tion with the other of said icylinders, means for rotating `said -support shaft against the action4A of hid yleldable means and operable to dispose the eccentric portion in a position wherein the cylinder rotatably mounted thereon is dispod in operative relation 'with the other of said cylinders, means operating in timed relation with `said drive shaft and operable at the beginning of a cycle of operation of said cylinders to effect operation of the means-for rotating said support'` shaft against the actionof said yieidable means, latch -meansfor retaining'said support shaft in the position into whichit is moved against' the action of'ssidwieidabie means and operable to retain the' cylinder on'said support shaft in cooperating relation with thefotherjof said cyl'- inders,'stillothermeansincludingapartoper sting in timedrelstion with the drive shaft and subsequent to the operation of the means for rotating said support shaft, and means for rendering said other means ineffective under predetermined operating conditions to enable said latch means to be effective to retain said cylinders in cooperative relation unless and until said other means render said latch means ineffective in a subsequent cycle of operation.

5. In a printing couple, a pair of cylinders for makingimpressions on sheets fed therebetween, means interconnecting said cylinders for synchronic cyclic rotation, a support shaft including a journaled concentric bearing portion and an eccentric portion, one of -said cylinders being mounted for rotation on said eccentric portion, a drive shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and in timed relation with said drive shaft, yieldablemeans acting on said support shaft to urge it into a position wherein the eccentric portion is disposed to position the cylinder mounted thereon outof operative relation with the other of said cylinders, means for rotating said support shaft against the action of said yieldable means and operable to dispose the eccentric portion in a position wherein the cylinder rotatably mounted thereon is disposed in operative relation with the other .of said cylinders, means operating in timed relation with said drive shaft and operable vat the beginning of a cycle of operation of said cylinders to effect operation of the means for rotating said support shaft against the action of said yieldable means, latch means for retaining said support shaft in the position into which it'is moved against the action of said yieldablemeans and operable to retain thecylinder on said support-shaft in cooperating -relation with the other of saidA cylinders, still other means including a part oper-` ating in timed relation with the drive shaft and operable to render said latch means ineffective subsequent to, the operation of the means for rotating said support shaft, and detecting means for preventing said other means from rendering said latch means ineffective upon cooperation of the detecting means with a sheet to be ,passed to said cylinders whereby the latch means is effective to retain said cylinders in cooperative relation with each other against the action of said yieldable means unless and until said other means are rendered effective in a subsequent cycle of operation.

6. In a` printing couple, a pair ofcylinders, means interconnecting said cylinders for synchronic cyclic rotation, a support shaft including a journaled concentric bearing portion andan eccentric portion, one of said cylinders being mountedfor rotation on said eccentric portion, a drive shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and vin timed relation with said drive shaft, an arm connected to said concentric bearing portion, means including a spring acting on said'arm to urge the support shaft into a position wherein the eccentric portion is disposedto position the ct'linder mounted thereon out of operative relation with the other of said cylinders, 'means including a part operable intimed relation with saiddrive shaft at the beginning'of a cycle of operation of said cylinders and operable through said'arm to rotate said support shaft against the raction of said Spring to dispose the eccentric .portion in a position lwherein the cylinder rotatably mounted 'thereon is disposed in operative relation with the other ,of said cylinders, latch means for retaining said support shaft in the position into which it is moved against the action of said spring and operable to retain the cylinder on said support shaft in" cooperating relation with the other of said cylinders, still other means including a part operating in timed relation with the drive shaft and operable to render said latch means ineffective subsequent to the operation of the means for rotating said support shaft, and means for rendering said other means ineffective under predetermined operating conditions to enable said latch means to be effective to retain said cylinders in `cooperative relation unless and until said other means render said latch means ineffective in a subsequent cycle of operation,

7. In a printing couple, a pair of cylinders,

means interconnecting said cylinders for. syn-Y chronic cyclic rotation, a support shaft including a journaled concentric bearing portion and an eccentric portion, oneV of said cylinders being mounted for rotation onsaid eccentric portion,

a drive shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and'in timed relation with said drive shaft, an arm connected to said concentric bearing portion, means including a spring acting on said arm to urge the support shaft into a position wherein the eccentric portion is disposed to position the cylinder mounted thereon out of operative relation with the other of said cylinders, means including a cam operable in timed relation with said drive shaft at the beginning of a cycle of operation of said cylinders and operable through said arm to rotate said support shaft against the action of said spring to dispose f n timed relation with the drive shaft and operable to render said latch means ineffective subsequent tothe operation of the means for rotating said support shaft, and means for rendering said other means ineffective under predetermined operating conditions to enable said latch means y to be effective to retain saidcylinders incooperative relation unless and untii\.\said other means render said latch means ineffective in a subsequent cycle of operation.

8. In a printing couple, a pair of cylinders for making impressions on sheets fed therebetween,

means interconnecting said cylinders for synchronic cyclic rotation, a support shaft including a journaled concentric bearing. portion and an eccentric portion, one of said cylinders being mounted for rotation on said eccentric portion, a driveV shaft, means for driving the interconnected cylinders from and in timed relation with said drive shaft, an arm connected to said conl centric bearing portion, operating means includerative relation with; -tneother of said cylinders;

latch means for retaining said support shaft in a position into which it is moved against the action of said spring and operable to retain the cylinder on said support shaft in cooperating relation with g the other of said cylinders, still other means including another cam operative in timed relation with the drive shaft, said other means being operable to render said latch means ineffective subsequent to the operation of the means for rotating said support shaft, and detecting means for preventing said other means from rendering said latch means ineffective-upon cooperation of the detecting means with a sheet to be passed to said cylinders whereby the latch means is effective tov retain said cylinders in cooperative relation with each other against the action of',1 said yieldable means unless and until said other means are rendered effective in a subsequent cycle of operation.

9. In a printing couple, a pair of cylinders,

m means interconnecting said cylinders for cooperating relation, a shaft including concentric bearing portions and having an eccentric portion between said bearing portions, one of said cylinders being mounted for rotation 'on said eccentric u portion, anarm connected to one of said bearing portions, a rocker connected to said arm, a cam follower on said rocker, a cam operating in timed relation with said cylinders, means acting on said rocker to urge said cam follower into engage- 0 ment with s d cam, a dwell on said cam engageable by-said am follower to so position said rocker, arm and shaft that the eccentric portion on said shaft is disposed to position the cylinder mounted thereon out of operative relation with a" the other of said cylinders, a portion on said cam for so positioning said rocker, arm and shaft that the eccentric portion of said shaft is positioned to move the cylinder thereon into operative relation with the other of said cylinders, means for retaining said shaft in such position that the eccentric portion thereof disposes thecylinder thereon in operative relation with said other of said cylinders and-including means on one of. said bearing portions andreleasable latch means cooperating with the means on said one ofsaid bearing portions, detecting means for determining whether or not a sheet is available for z f between said cylinders and operative to effect release of said releasable latch means upon the absence of I. a sheet, and means on said cam for timing-the operation of said detecting means.

10. In'a printing couple, a first cylinder. a

second cylinder, a gear permanently connected to th'e iirst cylinder, a second gear meshed with u the first gear, and means connecting the second gear to. thesecond cylinder and affording-relative movement between the second gear and the second cylinder whereby the second cylinder may be moved relative to the first cylinder without den meshing said gears. s

11. In a' printing couple. a ilrst cylinder, a

second cylinder, means. for moving the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder, a gear'fpermanently connected to the first cylinder. asec- I omhaear meshed with the first gear, and means connecting-the second second cylin-v necting the second gear to the second cylinder and affording relative movement between the second gear and the second cylinder' whereby the second cylinder may be moved relative to the first cylinder without demeshing said gears, said 5' connecting 'means including a pair of spaced members having a third member positioned therebetween for movement relative thereto, the pair of spaced members being mounted on one of the I parts connected by the connecting means and the lo third member being mounted on the other of the parts.

13. In a printing couple, a first cylinder, a second cylinder, means for moving the second cylinderrelative to the first cylinder, a gear permaw4 nently -connected to Ithe first cylinder, a second gear meshed with the first gear, a pair of spaced lugs mounted on the second gear, and a pinl mounted on the second cylinder and positioned between said lugs, the disposition of said pin between said lugs insuring rotation of the second cylinder with the second gear and permitting relative movement between the second gear and the second cylinder .whereby the second cylinder may be moved relative to the first cylinder with- V` out demeshing said gears. 14. In a printing couple, a printing cylinder, a platen cylinder, `means for feeding va sheet into the bight between said cylinders to have an impression made thereon, means for holding said sheet against movement into the bight between said cylinders, and including a nger engageable with the leading edge of a sheet and normally positioned to engage the leading edge of a sheet, movable means engageable with said nger to retract it from sheetV engaging position, a cam foilower carried by said movablemeans, a cam operable in timed relation with said cylinders and acting directly on said cam follower to eifect retractionof said finger at a predetermined time in gg the operation of said cylinders, and a roller under control of said cam tobe engageable 4with a sheet upon retraction of said Afinger from .engagement with the leadiifg edge of saidsheet.

15. In a printing couple, a platen cylinder, a

printing cylinder, means for arresting movement -oi? a sheet into the bight between said cylinders and including a finger engageable with the leading edge of a sheet and normally positioned to engage the leading edge of a sheet, means' for m feeding a .sheet into the bight between said cylinders and including a clampingroller, rockable means positioned to have the portion thereof pro jecting forwardly from the pivot thereof engageable with said flnger to be operable to retract said '55, linger. from sheet engageable position fromv the i forwardly projecting end when said forwardlyv projecting end -is lowered, said clamping roller being mounted'in the forwardly proiecting'end of said rockable means'to be ensallble 'with a s0 sheet when the forwardly proiectins end of said rockable means is lowered, and a cam operable in timed relation with said cylinders and engageable .withl the rearwardly Pmiecting portion' of said rockable' means and operative to eiIect upward sg movement of said rearwardly projecting' portion'l .and downward movement of the forwardly proiectins portion at 'a predetermined time in .the

'operation ofsaid cylinders to thereby disengage a cylinder-,78'

groesse '7 mounted on one of said shafts between said frame and the outer end of the shaft, a platen cylinder mounted on the other-of said shafts between said frame and the outer end of said shaft, brace means extending outwardly from said frame and connected to the outer end of one of said shafts,

and-a member having the outer ends of said shafts journaled therein and cooperating with the brace means to support the outer ends of said shafts from said frame and thereby rigidlysupport said cylinders to insure uniform neat impression operations thereof. e

17. In a printing couple including a frame, a

pair of shafts supported by said frame and ex-v tending outwardly therefrom, a printing cylinder mounted on one of said shafts between said frame and the outer end of themshaft, a platen.

, frame and connected to the outer end of one a member having the outer ends of said shafts' .journaled therein and cooperating with the brace of said shafts, a member having the outer ends of said shafts journaled therein and cooperating with the brace means to support the outer ends of said shafts from said frame and thereby rigidly support said cylinders to insure uniform neat impression operations thereof, means connecting one of said cylinders to one of said shafts for rotation therewith, means for imparting rotating movement to said shaft, a gear` rigidly connected to said one of said cylinders, asecond gear rotatably mounted on the other of said shafts and mesl'ied with the first gear, and means connecting the second gear to the cylinder mounted on the other of said shafts'for imparting rotative movement `to said cylinders, said connecting means affording relative radial movement between said second gear andthe cylinder rotatable therewith.

18. In .a printing couple including a frame, a`

pair of vshafts supported by said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, a printing cylinder mounted o'n one of said shafts between said frame and the outer end of the shaftla platen cylindermounted on the other of said shafts between said frame and the outer end of said shaft, brace' means extending outwardly from said frame and connected to the outer end of one of said shafts,

meansto-support the outer ends of said shafts from said frame and thereby rigidly support said cylinders to insure uniform neat impression operations thereof, one of said shafts having an eccentric portion intermediate the journaled portions thereof, the cylinder mounted on said shaft being mounted -on said eccentric portion, means for rotating said shaft to move the eccentric portion thereof whereby the cylinder mounted thereon may be moved to, and from cooperative relation with the other of said cylinders,.a gearmounted on this shaft in spaced relation with the eccentric portion thereof, 'meansconnecting said gear and the cylinder mounted on saidshaft for rotative" movement with one another and a'ording' relative radial movement between said gear and cylindel'il and a second gear rotatable with the other 2y -iirst gear and the cylinder rotatable therewith der and meshed with thenrstgear, the means affording relative radial movement between the 19. a printing couple, 'a printing cylinder having a printing form -fast thereon in a predetermined position axially thereof. a sheet -guideway having a part thereof aligned with a determined part in y the axialextent of Asaidprinting form, a stop finger for regulating the passage of sheets into the bight of said printing couple, and

means for engaging sheets to be passed through said'printing couple and operableto urge the sheets laterally into engagement. with said part i to engagement thereof withv said stop finger and said sheets are disengaged from the sheet engaging means upon engagement thereof with said stop nger.

20. In a printing couple, aprinting' cylinder determined/position in the axial extent thereof, a sheet guideway having a part arranged in radial relation with said printing cylinder, said part 'having a printing form fast thereon in a prebeing alignedl with a predetermined part in the axial extent of said printing form, stop means -operable to regulate the passage of sheets-into thebight of said printing couple', and means for feeding sheets through said guideway toward saidstop means and said-printing couple and operable on the sheets to urge said sheets laterally so as to engage corresponding edges of the sheets with f.

said part of said guideway to thereby arrange said sheets in predetermined relation with said printing form prior to engagement of the sheets withA said printing form, said sheet .feeding means being spaced from said stop 'means in an amount greater than the length of said sheets whereby the sheets are engaged with said part of said guideway prior toenga'gement thereof 'with said stop means and said sheets are disengaged from the sheet feeding means upon engagement thereof with said 'stop means.

21..In a printing couple, a printing cylinder having a Aprinting form fast thereon in a predesheet guidewayhaving a part arranged inradial relation with saidA printing cylinder, vsaid part aligned with a predetermined part inthe axialextent of said printing form, means for feeding sheets through said guideway toward' said printing couple and including a roller arranged in angular relation with said part of said `guide-A way, said roller being operable to force correprinting form prior to engagement thereof with said printing form, and stopl means operable t'o termined position in the axial extent thereof, a

regulate the passage of the sheets in the bight of said printing couple, said roller being spaced from said stop means in an amount slightly the length of said sheets whereby y said sheets are 'engaged with said p art'of said guideway prior to engagement thereof with said stop means and said sheets are disengaged from' the roller upon encaseme'nt thereof with said permitting the cylinderto be moved relative 'to the othercylinder withoutdemeshing said other 

